Gout is caused by a buildup of uric acid in the joints, especially in the joint of the big toe.
It's also caused by a decrease in kidney function.
Through hijama (cupping), the blood can be purified overall, as well as locally at the affected joints.
With hijama, treating certain specific points can also stimulate kidney function.
But the diet must also be adapted:
No refined sugars, no salt, no dairy products, and no meat products.
To compensate, we'll turn to plant-based protein and calcium, and for sugar we'll favor honey.
It's a painful joint disease. Ibn al-Qayyim reports in his book that the use of celery is very beneficial for healing, since it's one of the diuretic plants and helps eliminate the buildup of uric acid. It can be consumed as juice, with a small teaspoon of black seed in the morning on an empty stomach.
Celery seeds can also be consumed with honey, or as an herbal tea. Today, it's also found in capsule form.
In addition, lemon juice is very effective against gout. But so is cherry juice, at a rate of three glasses a day. The goal is to eliminate as much fluid as possible in order to get rid of this problem. Chamomile or blackcurrant leaf herbal teas can also be consumed.
Finally, there's a plant native to Namibia, found in capsule or ointment form, called devil's claw. The patient will take two capsules a day in the middle of meals, and apply the cream to the painful areas.
Gout is often caused by a high consumption of red meat, which leads to a buildup of protein in the joints. That's why I emphasize the effectiveness of juices, and cherry juice can sometimes be replaced with orange juice, since vitamin C is beneficial; however, it has been proven that cherry juice remains the most effective.
The flare vs. between flares: two different strategies
| During a flare (3 to 10 days) | Between flares (year-round) | |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Calm the inflammation and the pain | Bring uric acid below 60 mg/L to dissolve the crystals |
| Actions | Rest the joint, elevate the foot, cold pack for 15 minutes several times a day, 2 liters of water, no alcohol or meat | The professor's diet, water, weight, celery and lemon juice, cherries, gentle physical activity |
| Remedies | Devil's claw capsules (two per day in the middle of meals, as the professor indicates), ointment on the joint; chamomile and blackcurrant as herbal tea | Celery (juice, seeds, capsules), cherry, vitamin C, hijama on the kidney and joint points |
| Doctor | Colchicine or an anti-inflammatory if prescribed; a long-term treatment is not stopped during a flare | Uric acid measurement every 3 to 6 months; long-term treatment if more than 2 flares a year |
What the studies measured on the professor's remedies
- Cherry. In 633 gout patients followed for one year, eating cherries in the two days before reduced the risk of a flare by 35%, and by 75% in combination with allopurinol (Arthritis Rheum, 2012). A systematic review of six studies confirms the decrease in uric acid and flares (Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2019), and one trial shows that a dose of tart cherry lowers uric acid within 48 hours (Plant Foods Hum Nutr, 2021). The professor is right: cherry juice is the most effective of the juices, and the data place it ahead of orange.
- Vitamin C (lemon, orange). A meta-analysis of 13 trials: 500 mg of vitamin C per day modestly lowers uric acid, by about 3.5 mg/L (Arthritis Care Res, 2011). Lemon juice in water each morning is a good habit, not a treatment.
- Celery. Cited by Ibn al-Qayyim as a diuretic, it contains compounds that inhibit the enzyme that makes uric acid, identified in the seeds (Molecules, 2023), with an anti-gout effect demonstrated in rodents (Mol Med Rep, 2019). No human trial yet, but a real mechanism.
- Devil's claw has a review of 28 trials in osteoarthritis and back pain: an effective anti-inflammatory, with side effects at the level of placebo (Phytother Res, 2008). It calms the pain; it does not affect uric acid.
- Diet. A meta-analysis of large cohorts shows that diet explains only a small part of uric acid levels compared with genetics, but that beer, spirits, red meat, organ meats, and sugary sodas raise it, while low-fat dairy products, coffee, and fruit lower it (BMJ, 2018).
The diet, refined
The professor says: no refined sugars, no salt, no dairy, no meat. The data allow us to refine this, which makes the diet sustainable:
- To eliminate: beer (even non-alcoholic, because of yeast purines), spirits, industrial sodas and fructose juices, organ meats, deli meats, seafood, sardines and anchovies, excessive red meat.
- To reduce: red meat to once a week, poultry and fish in modest portions; salt, which tires the kidneys.
- To keep: low-fat dairy products lower uric acid in every study (a plain yogurt a day is actually useful); legumes, contrary to popular belief, do not increase flares; eggs, vegetables, fruit, whole grains, olive oil.
- Honey in place of sugar, in moderation: it contains fructose, so one spoonful, not five.
- Water: 2 liters a day is the professor's first "remedy," and he is right: the kidneys eliminate uric acid in the urine.
- Weight: losing a few kilograms, without a drastic diet (dry fasting and very-low-calorie diets trigger flares), lowers uric acid for the long term.
Hijama and gout
The professor recommends hijama to purify the blood and stimulate the kidneys. It has its place between flares, never on a joint in the middle of a flare (inflamed skin, extreme pain). Classic points: the upper back, the lumbar region for the kidneys, and away from the toe. One session every two to three months, with a trained practitioner, with hydration and a light meal beforehand. See what you may feel after a hijama session.
Contraindications and precautions
Gout is not just toe pain: excess uric acid damages the kidneys and is associated with high blood pressure and diabetes. International recommendations are clear: beyond two flares a year, in the presence of tophi (white lumps under the skin) or kidney stones, a long-term treatment that lowers uric acid is necessary, and it is effective (American College of Rheumatology, 2020). The professor's remedies add to it and often allow the dose to be reduced; they do not replace it. A flare with fever, or a red and hot joint in someone who has never had gout, may be an infection: seek emergency care. Devil's claw should be avoided in cases of ulcer, gallstones, and while on anticoagulants; high-dose vitamin C promotes kidney stones in some people.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best natural remedy for gout?
The one with data behind it: cherry, fresh or as tart juice, one to two glasses a day, combined with plenty of water and the diet. The professor's celery and lemon complement it. None replace a long-term treatment if flares are frequent.
Is honey allowed with gout?
Yes, in moderation: it replaces refined sugar but contains fructose, which raises uric acid in excess. One teaspoon a day, no more.
Can hijama be done during a gout flare?
No, never on an inflamed joint. Hijama is done between flares, on the back and kidney points, with a trained practitioner.
Should all dairy be eliminated?
The studies show the opposite: low-fat dairy products lower uric acid. You can keep a yogurt or low-fat milk. It's beer, organ meats, seafood, and sodas that really need to go.
When is medical treatment needed?
From the second flare within the year, or if there are tophi or kidney stones. Long-term treatment dissolves the crystals and protects the kidneys; natural remedies accompany it.
